In the sentence ‘Just 10 percent of how we process sight comes from our eyes,’ the word ‘how’ plays a crucial role. But what type of word is ‘how’ in this context? Is it a question word or a relative adverb? In this article, we will break down the function of ‘how’ and explore its usage in this sentence.
The Role of ‘How’ in English Grammar
‘How’ can serve different grammatical functions depending on the context. It is commonly known as a question word, often used to ask about the manner or way something happens (e.g., ‘How did you do that?’). However, in the sentence ‘how we process sight,’ ‘how’ is not a question word but a relative adverb.
‘How’ as a Relative Adverb
In this case, ‘how’ is functioning as a relative adverb. It introduces a relative clause (‘how we process sight’) that explains the method or manner in which we process sight. A relative adverb modifies the clause by explaining the ‘way’ or ‘manner’ in which something occurs. In this sentence, it tells us the specific way sight is processed, not asking a direct question.
The Sentence Breakdown
Let’s break the sentence down: ‘Just 10 percent of how we process sight comes from our eyes.’ Here, ‘how we process sight’ provides additional information about the percentage of processing that happens in our eyes. It’s clarifying the manner or method by which sight is processed, not asking about it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in the sentence ‘Just 10 percent of how we process sight comes from our eyes,’ the word ‘how’ functions as a relative adverb, not a question word. It introduces a relative clause to explain the manner in which sight is processed. Understanding this distinction helps clarify the sentence’s meaning and the role of ‘how’ in it.
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